The owner of a downtown Jacksonville business is charging for parking spaces, a first for Jacksonville.

“I’m expanding business and need the spots,” said David Wells, owner of Buy Smart Realty in Swansboro, which since 1994 has owned and operated the Jacksonville Convention Center in the old Piggly Wiggly building on New Bridge Street across from City Hall.

The center has hosted mostly nighttime events, such as wedding receptions and anniversary parties, but Wells said he is booking more and more afternoon events like business seminars.

He said the center’s parking lot was always full of cars belonging to employees of other businesses. In order to make room for center guests — who are not charged to park — Wells decided to instate a parking fee. Plus, he said, the lot needs some repairs so he thought it was only fair that those who have been parking there for free for years chip in for a change.

Buy Smart Realty distributed a letter in December to downtown Jacksonville businesses informing them that as of Jan. 1 parking at the Jacksonville Convention Center would no longer be free. Anyone who wants to park in the large parking lot behind the center at 800 New Bridge St. has to purchase an annual parking permit for $300.

“Permits are not transferable and are to be used only on the vehicle for which it is issued,” the letter states.

So far no one has taken Wells up on the offer, and the parking lot sits empty every day.

Anthony Medlin, owner of Johnson Drugs on New Bridge Street, said his employees used to park at the convention center, but now park elsewhere.

“We park in other places,” he said, adding he wasn’t going to pay $300 for a parking pass and didn’t expect his employees to either.

Other business owners and employees along the downtown street agreed.

The center parking lot was never full and had at most a handful of cars parked there, said Bobbie Barkus, an employee at Emmaus Thrift Shop on West Bayshore Boulevard, which is directly across from the center.

“People who went there for an event parked over here so they could be closer to the front doors of the center,” she said.

Wells said he researched what parking in other North Carolina cities was going for and determined his asking price was more than fair.

City and county officials have acknowledged a lack of downtown parking spaces. A new parking lot was created by the city to serve Court Street businesses and government offices, but it’s a few blocks from City Hall. Officials have also discussed building a parking garage downtown.

Wells said he has been more than gracious with folks, allowing the entire city staff to use the parking lot during renovation of city hall last year.

Page 2 of 2 - City Manager Richard Woodruff said that as a private business owner, Wells has the right to determine who can use the property and under what conditions.

“As such, the owner can also approve or deny the parking of vehicles on the lot, when those vehicles are not conducting business with his establishment,” Woodruff said. “In this case, the owner has decided that only his patrons are allowed to park free. All others must ‘park at a fee.’”

Wells said he is just trying to ensure the lot will be available when he needs it for daytime events. On days he isn’t using the lot and other downtown events are scheduled he will allow parking there.

But as far as day-to-day parking goes, it’s pay up or park elsewhere.

Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.